Reduced price summer swim lessons begin next week in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The City of Santa Barbara's Parks and Recreation Department has reduced prices for summer swimming lessons and it is encouraging parents to enroll their kids.

Two weeks of classes cost $50.

The youth swim lessons will be at the Ortega Park Pool. (There's also a parent-child class at the Los Banos Pool.)

Aquatics Supervisor Tony Sholl says swimming lessons help to build confidence with those going into the water at the beach, a pool or on a vacation where water is part of the activities.

The city says the lessons improve water safety, physical development, cognitive functions, socialization and confidence building.

There are different levels of swimming instructions available up to age 12.

Sholl says," it is just invaluable,  it is a life skill you will have forever, especially living in a coastal community you need to be confident in the water. It's great when you go visit places and you can go snorkeling and go anywhere you like with water around it and  be confident you can go out and play." 

When asked about swimming lessons and water safety,  a parent Steve Muraoka said on East Beach,  it was a priority. "That's an area where you can  run into some real big problems but if you have some knowledge of how to take care of yourself in the water  that's priceless."

As a life skill for health and wellness, Muraoka said, "to me swimming is one of the healthiest exercises you can do. I mean as you get older that's one of the last things you can do without  straining your body."

For more information go to: City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation swimming lessons.

(There's also financial help for the classes available through the PARC Foundation.)

For more from John, follow him on Twitter below: